It had been a year and a half since Sasuke attacked Naruto and the time had finally come. Danzo had slipped into complete dementia but all of his dogs were too loyal to do anything about it. Missions had been put on hold for a month as most every Root operative were in one of the underground bases, bases Naruto had become quite familiar with. In three days time he had his self-appointed mission, Root would be no more. Fortunately he won't be alone in this endeavor as he wasn't the only mole in Root.

About six months ago Naruto was summoned to Tsunade's official for an official meeting. Once he arrived, she was there with shinobi elders and Sai, much to the shock of Naruto. Apparently, when Tsunade was forced to suspend him, she and the elders expected Danzo to make a play to get Naruto. They were prepared to encourage him to accept, assuming he'd initially turn it down. When Tsunade discovered, from Jiraiya and Shizune that not only had he accepted but had the outline of a plan to neutralize Danzo she decided to allow him to continue while informing Sai to keep watch. Sai, apparently, had been the Sandaime's inside man and was now Tsunade's mole. He was instructed not to inform Naruto of his status unless necessary and it became necessary as Naruto suspected, correctly, Sai knew he wasn't loyal to Danzo and plotting against him. Once Sai became convinced, correctly, Naruto planned to eliminate him he requested Tsunade reveal everything as to avoid an unfortunate accident.

When asked why she didn't just tell him she knew what he was doing and that Sai was an ally, Tsunade reasoned that if Naruto really wants to be Hokage it means going above and beyond and often adapting to situations they had no previous training for. She felt he was owed the chance to see if he could pull it off and had managed his resources well. She explained that the Sandaime and Yondaime both had similar trials to see if they would be worthy to one day become Hokage.

From then on, Sai and Naruto coordinated their efforts and came up with a plan to eliminate Root and Danzo in one night. Danzo made the task easier after an episode where he was fighting Hiruzen and revealed his mokuton and sharingan covered arm, which kept closing after he used some technique to evade attacks only he could see. Danzo's delusions taught Naruto that sharingan or not, if the mind is broken the sharingan cannot fix it, no matter how objective the eye itself is there is still a layer of interpretation the user must perform. With the plan set, Naruto stated it would be best for him to have his full range of abilities before attempting his mission and that is why he is on Mt. Myoboku preparing to face his blood clone.

Jiraiya had surmised that it was likely that the blood clone was actually more powerful than the real Naruto, excluding the sharingan but the real Naruto had more experience. Both being innately competitive decided the best way to find out was an all out spar before the blood clone was dispelled. That would leave two days to assimilate the memories and rest before the undertaking to remove Root. The real Naruto was dressed in his Root uniform of all black shirt, pants and sandals with midnight blue ANBU armor and bracers. He had a ninjato strapped parallel to his back. The blood clone Naruto was dressed in a black and orange jacket with orange pants and both were awaiting Jiraiya to signal the start of the spar. Giving a small nod, the two recognized it as the signal and both blurred toward each other.

Each choosing to start with taijutsu, the pair of Naruto's exchanged blows, fists were countered with palm thrusts, kicks with knee strikes. It became evident to Jiraiya that the blood clone was slightly but noticeably stronger and preferred to throw hooks and short uppercuts, the real Naruto was faster and preferred straighter palm thrusts however neither were gaining a distinct advantage over the other. Clone Naruto changed tactics, going for a palm thrust of his own, which real Naruto was going to initially block but at the last second replaced himself with a log which he heard hit the ground as if it weighed several times more than it actually did. Not wasting time, he sent a volley of wind infused kunai to only have them stopped by a Wind Style: Great Breakthrough. Closing the distance again, real Naruto unsheathes his ninjato and engages his clone once more. While the clone was doing an adequate job of defending with his two kunai, real Naruto was gaining the advantage, forcing the clone to make the replacement this time. Real Naruto was immediately assaulted with another Great Breakthrough but countered it with an Earth Style: Mud Wall and then sank into the ground using the Earth Style: Underground Projection Fish jutsu.

Jiraiya watched in amazement and the pair engaged in an ninjutsu battled worthy of experienced Jounin, futon, suiton, and doton techniques were used, countered and then countered again. After the prolonged ninjutsu bout he could see both were visibly tired and decided to end it there and directed the boys to their cabin so they could begin the memory transference process.

8 hours later, the memories had been transferred and Light and Yami were having what was to be their final conversation.

"You remember what I asked you the day after Sasuke attacked us?" asked Yami Naruto.

"Why was I so desperate to win the approval and friendship of those two when there were others willing acknowledge me? Yea, I remember and I guess, I thought Sasuke and I were a lot of like. We both knew the pain of loneliness and could recognize that in each other. As for Sakura, she was once an outcast like me but managed to gain acceptance. I guess they both had elements of what I wanted to be and I thought if I could gain their friendship I could eventually succeed where they had."

"And now?"

"They weren't really my friends. I don't hate them and I guess a part of me still cares somewhat for Sakura even if you hate it, she wasn't being malicious just misguided but I have to face the facts that I never was to them what they were to me." replied Light Naruto.

"I never said her intention was malicious only she didn't care how it affected us."

"But we know she wasn't just protecting herself but Ino, at least acknowledge she had good intentions even if we're never friends again she isn't the villain you're determined to see her as."

"Even if what she did had ruined our chances of becoming Hokage?"

"It didn't. There is bravery in forgiveness, ya know."

"There is also foolishness in its excess. But enough, we don't have to agree on everything for this to work but no more hiding who you are. No more repressing the ugliness of the world. We'll deal with it and we aren't alone anymore so don't act the idiot.'

"Fine, whatever. Let's just do this."

Jiraiya, Pa and Ma had kept watch over Naruto to make sure the strain of the memory transference wasn't too much. Twenty minutes after Naruto became whole again he started to stir, complaining of a headache. Jiraiya explained it was the affects of unsealing his eyes. Drawing on the memories of his clones, Naruto slowly focuses chakra to his eyes and finds a mirror to see two fully evolved sharingan eyes staring back at him.

"This is so freaky, ero-sensei."

"Stop calling me that, brat!"

"Ne, Sensei?"

"Yes brat?"

"Did my clone really have you believing you were in love with Shizune and found large breasts repulsive?"

"Yes, your asshole clone did lightly hypnotize me and if you recall I kicked his ass for the rest of the day so don't try anything."

"Pfft, we'll see."

"Naruto-chan, rest for remainder of the day, we'll make sure your reflexes are up to par with your sharingan and have you get a feel for your other skills tomorrow."

"Ok, thank you Fukasaku-sensei."

Two days later found Naruto and Sai in the Hokage's office, going over their plan for the operation. The plan was to hit all four underground bases simultaneously utilizing Naruto's shadow clones and some seals he had already placed in three of the bases. The main base, he and Sai would have assault directly as its location makes it too dangerous should structural damage cause a collapse. Hearing the details of the final plan, Tsunade agrees but before she dismisses the two teens she presents them with something.

"Naruto, Sai, instead of pretending to be ANBU, I'd like you both to carry out this mission as official Konoha ANBU." Handing the two their masks, Naruto can't help but smile. He never really mentioned it but being in the ANBU was also one of his dreams on his way to becoming Hokage so even if it is only for a mission, being allowed to wear the mask is a true honor.

"Ok, Shark and Squid you have your orders, report back to me when it is completed. Dismissed" And at her word, the two shunshin'd away.

Outside the main Root base, Naruto and Sai, or Shark and Squid, lurk in the shadows patiently waiting for the start of their plan. At 3;00 am exactly, a dispelled clone sends the memory the operation is ready to commence and immediately Shark is behind one of the Root guards, shoving a kunai in his brain stem. Squid immediately follows suit killing the second guard on watch. Two ink beasts take the bodies away as the other shadow clones in attendance move on to the rest of the exterior security.

At the other bases, the signal Shark and Squid were waiting for was the timed activation of a series of seals placed on numerous walls within the bases. These seals were two way storage seals, the other access point being below several lakes and rivers in Konoha, immediately flooding the bases. The shadow clones had their underwater breathers, attached with seals that could draw oxygen from the water and every clone in each base performed the hand signs for the Water Style: Five Feeding Sharks Jutsu and watched as the numerous sharks devoured the unsuspecting Root agents. Those that managed to fight back were eventually overwhelmed as the sharks would regenerate. If the members weren't torn apart by the sharks they were drowning under the influx of water. The clone assault of the three Root bases lasted less than fifteen minutes, each ending with every Root member dead. At the twenty minute mark, the seals activated again, directing the water back to its source and the clones began incinerating the bodies with the few katon jutsu they knew.

Back at the main base the duo was having success eliminating their targets, most of the agents being asleep aiding in this. When they finished in the barracks they started making their way to Danzo's office, the two were assaulted by Fu and Torune, though due to Fu and Naruto being sensors, neither was able to sneak up on the other. Fu decided to attack Sai while Torune squared off with Naruto.

"You'll both die for betraying Danzo-sama" the Yamanaka announced as he charged at Sai with his tanto and the two engage each other in kenjutsu. Knowing about his microscopic, poisonous insects, Naruto decided to keep the distance by unleashing several high powered futon jutsu. Knowing a mid to long distance fight doesn't favor him Torune falls back to try to strategize when both hear Sai gasp in pain as Fu managed to wound him. Before he could go for the finishing blow, Sai is replaced with Naruto who locks eyes with Fu and kicks him away, causing the Yamanaka to lose all the air in his lungs. Naruto creates a shadow clone to extract Sai and he prepares to face Danzo's top two agents alone. As Fu rights himself, he creates a scarecrow like object and which dashes to attack Naruto along with Torune. As they are coming from different directions, Naruto unsheathed his ninjato and decides to attack the construct first, much to the pleasure of both Fu and Torune. As Naruto cuts into the scarecrow he notices it is barely fighting back until suddenly, Naruto can't move.

Fu starts to smile in victory until he feels something is wrong. Hundreds of thousands of separate consciousnesses are screaming at him to exit. But it's too late, Naruto's ninjato has already pierced Torune's chest, which means Fu has suffered a similar injury. Fu is confused as to how he could have been tricked, how he possessed his friend and comrade until he sees two sharingan eyes staring down at him. He doesn't even get to ask how before the last of his and his friend's life slips away. Generating more shadow clones, the horde begins the process of removing the fallen as Naruto has one last stop to make, having gotten the memories of Sai reaching Tsunade.

Entering the home was easy enough as there was no security present, Danzo became increasingly paranoid during his decline. Making his way up the stairs he sees Danzo sitting in a chair as if he had been awaiting him.

"I see you've finally arrived Tobirama-sama. Finally come to pay me one final insult?"

"You've betrayed the Will of Fire for too long, you've let me no choice." Naruto said, playing along

"No choice? You always had a choice and you always chose Hiruzen and looked what has happened. Two wars under his leadership, a rampaging bijuu and enemies around every corner."

"Many of which you've created. And don't say you did it for Konoha. You did it for yourself."

"No, I did do it for Konoha, just not the Hiruzen's version.. I did it for a strong Konoha, one unrivaled and uncontested throughout the lands."

"Sounds like a good way to make enemies." Naruto said as he materialized a seal that created thick, black smoke. Danzo, too feeble of mind and body just stayed, inhaling the smoke. Naruto stayed until he saw the man pass out. Once he heard the downstairs smoke detectors he knew the original had started the fire. It would appear that a sick old man caused an accidental house fire and died of smoke inhalation. Quick, clean and without drawing the need to ask a lot of questions. The clone dispelled itself after checking the vitals of Danzo and removing Shisui's, his cousin's, eye, encasing it in a medical jar and sealing it away. The clone then dispelled, alerting the original the mission had been completed.

When Naruto arrived in the Hokage's office, he was greeted with a bone crushing hug from Tsunade. When he pointed out the bone crushing nature of said hug, he was informed he's plenty sturdy and to deal with it. Moments later Naruto gave his after mission report. Letting him finish his report, Tsunade then spoke,

"Congratulations on your long term S-rank mission, we'll be depositing your pay in a few days. Now, I know you've been running missions under Danzo and Jiraiya gave me an extensive report on the skills of your clone. Either one would put you above a chunin but without more official missions I can't promote you to full jounin. I can, however, promote you to special jounin. Congratulations Naruto and thank you for your service, she said, handing the teen his jounin vest. Getting teary eyed and feeling one step closer to his dream.

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

"No thanks needed but I need to talk to you about what happens next. I want you to continue working with Sai but you'll need a third member and I have someone in mind but you'd have to train them up to par."

Narrowing his eyes, "Please tell me it isn't the Uchiha-teme."

"No, I wouldn't do that to you. It's Sakura."

"Fuck my life."

"Language brat!"

"Oi, I'm a jounin now, you can't scold me like a mother would her child."

"Shut it or I'll do more than scold you! Also, you shouldn't use profane language in front of your venerable leader anyway."

"Pfft, venerable. More like in vino veritas."

"Oh, someone's been reading."

Deciding not to rise to the bait, "Why Sakura, baa-chan?"

"She earned her way back. If she blows it then she'll be sent somewhere else but the reality check I gave her should have set her straight."

"When should I expect her back?"

"Sometime next month, you'll have an important mission before then but the rest will be downtime."

Taking that as his cue, Naruto shunshins away to his apartment, relieved to be home. He removes his ANBU armor and bracers, sealing it away. And then heads to the bathroom to take a shower. Twenty minutes later, Naruto heads to bed to be greeted by a lump in his bed.

"I didn't think you'd be back until tomorrow." he said.

"Yea, we managed to finish early and pushed hard on the way back." she said sleepily.

Yawning a little, she continues, "how'd your mission go?"

"It went fine but I'll tell you it all in the morning, it's still early yet."

"Fine, fine. Goodnight, Naruto-kun"

"Goodnight, Hinata-chan.

Her initial assignment here was not what she thought it would be, it was not as she had feared. Not being particularly developed and looking every bit her age was a boon as Sakura was rarely requested for a date, she was mostly a hostess in the fine establishment she was banished to, because it felt just like a banishment. Not that Sakura would complain, she saw how a lot of the kunoichi looked entirely fucked out with little to no fight left in them. She resolved to not allow that to be her. Every moment she could, she would train, and train harder than she ever had. She was aided by a mystery benefactor that sent training regimens and scrolls on medical ninjutsu. While she had difficulty with the genjutsu self-study, medical ninjutsu was much more straightforward and she grasped the concepts easily. Sakura felt strong and she loved it, while regretting she hadn't been more dedicated to herself as a kunoichi sooner, not until it was almost taken from her.

And while she was increasing her training, she had discovered the key to the kind of intelligence gathering she was tasked with. Since she was not in the room with any of the targets, she generally only got bits and pieces of information. It was one big puzzle and it was up to her to put it together, to keep abreast of current events, to be able to recall half-heard conversations and most of all, to see underneath the underneath. It's a good skill to have, she might recommend Kakashi train others in how to do it should he ever get another genin squad.

This place and places like it operated as something of a sanctuary for ninja, missing or affiliated. The rules were simple, what is outside of here stays outside of here and if you bring violence to the establishment you were banned and likely would have a price put on your head. For the entirety of her time stationed here, Sakura had yet to see anyone violate the rules, which she found impressive, especially given the amount of alcohol and drugs consumed by the guests. And while those very substances loosen the tongues, it also loosens the mind and having to wade through the stream of conscious ravings of a high as a kite shinobi doesn't produce the best intelligence, but it was the job. Or it was.

Sakura had found her way back, back into the regular forces and hopefully back into Tsunade's good graces. How had she done it? It was entirely by accident. There were two regulars that would frequent the establishment for a few days every few months, while one would request several girls to do whatever, the other didn't seem to want to be there but did so for his companion. Sakura, on a whim, decided to chat up the nervous looking man and he seemed to enjoy just talking to her. He claimed to be in talent acquisitions but his real passion was art. It was, initially, odd speaking with him because he looked like a male Ino but she got past that relatively quickly.

While he had never really given her any vital information, he became the key to her liberation. In a monthly intelligence report, Sakura wrote about him only to give context to a half heard conversation of a group of people sitting by them. It shocked her when two weeks later she was standing before Jiraiya-sama who requested her personally.

She was, understandably, apprehensive about being alone with the man, she did fuck over his student but Jiraiya reassured her he was not there for any sort of retribution or anything other than Konoha business. Put at ease Jiraiya went on to explain who she had been making time with and stated he was associated with a group that meant Naruto harm. Sakura had gone stiff at that and while she wanted to ask so many questions, she figured it'd be best not to test the "not here for retribution" assurance given to her. Jiraiya continued by giving her a mission, a bottle of pills and a container of mint scented lotion.

The mission had been to apply said lotion on to the skin of one Deidara of Iwa. The pills were to inoculate her from the effects of whatever was in said lotion. Sakura didn't have to wait long, as a month later Deidara and his partner, she now knew as Sasori of the Red Sands, had arrived. Putting her training to use, Sakura gave Deidara a sob story about not being active enough for the Madame of the establishment and asking if she could give him a massage to show she could attract clients. He was reticent but like most men, eyes full of unshed tears and he caved. She promptly led him to a room so he could get freshened up and change.

Sakura tried her best to not appear nervous, though her being nervous unintentionally sold her as not being a threat but a nervous teenager to Deidara when he returned to the room, with the only light being from the recently lit candles. The massage had been going as planned, Deidara being none the wiser about her true intention. That was why Sakura allowed her mind to wander. At first, it was simply about why this missing nin would want to harm Naruto. Her thoughts then got stuck on Naruto as she wondered what he looked like now. Would his body be similar to Deidara's? Leaner? Bulkier? Had he allowed his hair to grow out? In the midst of this, she had asked Deidara to turn over on his back, still lost in her thoughts until she heard a moan escape Deidara's mouth, except she no longer saw Deidara.

In Sakura's view, laid the whiskered cheeked, blue eyed baka she had mistreated and so desperately wanted to make an amends to. As Sakura continued her massage toward his pelvis, she felt his arousal and had to fight back a smirk. Her blond baka enjoyed her touch. Feeling invigorated, she slipped her hands into his shorts and quickly took hold of his manhood. Before he could fully voice his protest, Sakura shushed him as she removed him from his shorts and began to increase the pace of her strokes. It was intoxicating seeing him at the mercy of her touch, especially after he had rejected her outside his apartment. A devious part of her mind told her to push it, do more and drive him over the edge but she stamped that thought down. In the future she would but not now, for tonight he'd have to make due with her hands; which didn't appear to be a hardship as his breathing became labored and his body a glow with a thin layer of sweat. He was approaching his limit which caused her to increase her pace even more until he reached his climax. Excusing herself to clean up, she soon returned and the pair went to sleep. Sakura awoke the next morning alone, satisfied she had completed her mission but not fully aware of why she had taken it so far or that for the last part of it she had been thinking of her former teammate.

"I assume you're here to inform me that the package has been delivered?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama. Within the week, all those infected should have expired and your strike teams should be able to handle the rest." replied Itachi.

If forced to, she'd admit she impressed herself. A concoction that took three days to reach volatility, leaving the carrier infectious for two days after that, not showing symptoms until after they had stopped being infectious and dropping dead a week after initial exposure while those infected expired around the same time not needing the incubation period. It was Naruto's request to Shizune that got Tsunade thinking like the Queen of elixirs again. Why fight ten S ranked shinobi when you could cut the numbers down with a poison or disease? One thing was sure, letting Akatsuki have the initiative was a bad idea and when Sakura was able to help Jiraiya confirm they were based in Ame the ball got rolling. She was able to bring Itachi back and now they just had to assemble a team.

The largest source of debate between her, Jiraiya and the Elders is whether or not to include Naruto. She had mentioned he'd have an important mission but that was more so he wouldn't take too much time nor get too risky in his training but sending a jinchuuriki to the people wanting to capture jinchuuriki felt like a monumentally bad idea.

Jiraiya argued, especially given his successful elimination of Root, that Naruto was clearly skilled enough for a covert infiltration and assault operation. He insured the three dissenting parties that the kid was powerful enough, borderline S-Rank, which didn't include utilizing the bijuu contained within him. More than that, Jiraiya stated, he deserved to face down his would be executioners. While poetic justice, truthfully such thinking is unbecoming of a ninja so she had to dismiss it. But she couldn't dismiss Naruto's abilities, especially when paired with Sai.

"The true leader goes by Madara, he was responsible for freeing the bijuu the night Naruto-kun was born." supplied Itachi but whether or not it was in favor or or to dissuade Naruto's inclusion was unknown.

"Then we have to let him go." said Jiraiya.

"Why? Are you going to tell him before the mission that the man responsible for his misery, the man that killed his parents is possibly there? Or would you let said man reveal it to him, allowing a moment's distraction?" asked Homura.

"I'd tell him. He isn't some short tempered child, he'll behave professionally."

"Jiraiya, there is acting professionally and then there is this. Very few people could look act the architect of all their misery and not be swayed into irrational action, namely refusing to retreat and fighting past his limits. Possibly even unleashing the kyuubi just to be sure he killed the man." replied Koharu.

"Jiraiya, talk to him, tell him everything regarding the mission. If you are absolutely certain he can handle it then I'll send it, if not Kakashi will take his place. I'll get the other three names together shortly." Tsunade said as they finalized their plans to remove the Akatsuki.